critique request - DPChallenge Forums

04/28/2004 10:17:09 PM · #1

Hello, I was trying to shoot some photos of people at a Earth Day Celebration here in my city. More on photojournalism approach, or street photography. I just thought if anyone had time to think about how these could have been better or even ideas about capturing the essence of people and life. These are just 3 of 13 best photos out of 200 I shot that day.

Thank you in advanced.

As far as the comp goes with this one it's great i think, but needs more action to it.

Caputureing so much emotion from all thess people are just priceless. I wasn't waiting for the right time, just shot rapidly behind a band to the right and left off the photo.

She was danceing to the drums and moveing around, it's kinda out of focus with the hair, I know. i wished that i kept her hands that were out front of her, but there was a shoulder of another womans in the way. However, this expression she had at that point in time I pressed the button is great I think.

Message edited by author 2004-04-28 22:29:14.

fredluvsHim

Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Z

04/28/2004 10:28:21 PM · #2

I like the first pics, mainly because it is showing what you were taking pictures of--Earth Day. THe drum gives it an interesting focal point. But, I would've done a torso shot, to get the person in the picture, to show that there is participation in the event--perhaps by a member of the community. The second one, I'm not too sure about--the guy on the chair looks funny--like he was posing for another pic. The couple at the front of the pic is a good focal point, but there is all this other stuff--like the guy in the left side of the pic--that distract your attention. Could you try to maybe crop just the couple lounging on the grass? That would make it better. The third one is a good portrait, but I see no connection to the event. A photojournalist will try to incorporate the events into the pic. Overall, I like the clarity of the pics, and the photos are good, but maybe not for an article. I am a photographer for my schools' newspaper, and I kind've had to learn this all on my own--trial and error--you know, if it got printed, it was what they were looking for!
Good luck, and I woul like to see the other ones of the 13 you took.
annina.rupe@wartburg.edu
Annina

04/28/2004 10:44:33 PM · #3

Originally posted by fredluvsHim:

Those other shots are at //dhsmith.smugmug.com/gallery/71729. Hmmm, I see what you mean here. Give the viewer more about what the event is through the images. I have those type of shots within the 200 I did shoot, the girl danceing, the third one, I had a whole body shot and with the drummers too...come to think about, It wasn't until I got home and opened up all these photos and realized how much street photograhgy/ photojournalism is interesting to shoot.

i have a full shot of a drummer within the 13 I kept, or thought was the best.

the two people siting and laughing has been cropped to death to just get it to this size without makeing to small. Perhaps, next time. Just jump out there more and get closer to them.

fredluvsHim

Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Z

04/28/2004 10:50:07 PM · #4

I love your pictures!! They have a lot of character! The 3 you posted on here don't even sum up what's on the website. There are others on the site that I would definitely choose to put in a publication. i.e.the one of the girl in the white shirt w/long hair, the mother and son!
Great job...
Annina

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

04/28/2004 11:23:44 PM · #5

Well thank you. I was after in shooting some folks that day to capture emotion and events. However, after getting home and looking at all those photos. I felt that I could take this a bit more further in a journalist approach. Hmmm, I think I have found a a little nitch about photojournalism. Just wanting to know first hand from others too. I agree, some shots are just great shots. (more bad one though) But to display a story, have a photo with more than just a head shot....:) Great pointer you gave...it got me thinking more about this and what i am looking for in telling a story with photos. It may lead to other projects I have in mind.

Again, thank you.

Message edited by author 2004-04-28 23:27:00.

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

04/28/2004 11:56:29 PM · #6

I think you did a good job. I love this kind of photography. It's a whole different ballgame alltogether. My favorite photo is Young Mother and Son but the son looks like a doll, especially on his hands, which I think may have been from too much neat-imaging giving that plastic skin effect. I really like the second one you posted in this thread too; I think it might be interesting if cropped down to just the two people on the bottom right. Great work!

04/29/2004 05:26:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by JPR:

Thank you JPR. HUH, I didn't really noticed that hand of the little boy. All I did to this photo was convert it to black and white and added quadtones to it. Unsharp Mask at 75%, adjusted the curves just slightly. I wonder why too his hand looks plastic. I don't think it's a fake hand (medicaly). I didn't do any selective changes to the photo, just to the whole image. I don't think it he was a "doll" He moved and breathed and talked. :) Interesting observation there...I too like the two people laughing and appear to enjoy the day. I wonder if can go any more in Croping that...without makeing to small. Later

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

04/29/2004 05:31:49 PM · #8

Most has already been said, and better probably, by others. I just wanted to add that I thought they were superb photos of an event. The only tiny detail I would change is that just the man's hand (on the drum) has a bit of motion blur, but not in a fullness that would imply you were going for that. That is a really subjective, picky observation. Again -- great capture. I am going to click on over to see the rest now.

soup

Canon EOS-30D